The Relief Brief: Monday, August 8th

by Collin Campbell (collinman005@gmail.com) Last Updated 2016-08-09 02:48:38

Somewhere around 35% of at bats come against a team’s bullpen. Most DFSers, however, pay attention only to the matchup an offense has with starting pitchers.

In order to give RotoGrinders readers an edge on the field, we have developed a Bullpen Pitching article that focuses on bullpen usage and skill, as well as the elements that may come into play on that day in terms of the bullpen pitchers an offense is likeliest to see. Although we developed this article as part of our Premium Content Package, we decided to make this article free to all readers for the remainder of the 2016 MLB season!

By now, you know the format and the goal of this article. This is yet another great angle of coverage to help you gain an edge over the field. The bullpen highlights will help you pinpoint situations to attack as well as situations to avoid.

Monday night features nine game slate. The highlights are below! Thanks for reading, and keep the feedback coming.

1. Bullpen Highlights

Jake Odorizzi has gone three straight starts and just shy of 22 innings without allowing a single run. Those numbers are indeed attractive, but keep in mind that Odorizzi is a heavy reverse-splits pitcher (4.77xFIP to righties). The Rays bullpen has been decent overall, but they are allowing the third most HR/9 in baseball. The Blue Jays remain ice cold at the plate (with the exception of Devon Travis).

Rob Whalen lasted five innings in his major league debut last week, which was predictably short. He allowed four runs, gave up four walks and struck out five, but he did pick up the win. The Brewers have the third highest team wOBA over the last two weeks, and the game will be played in the friendly confines of Miller Park. The Braves bullpen has been in the bottom third all season long, and has been especially bad over the last 30 days (4.16 SIERA).

In Tyler Duffey’s last 15 innings pitched, he has allowed 20 earned runs. On the season, Duffy has given up 13 dongs in just over 45 innings against right-handed bats. The Astros bats continue to struggle overall, but this is a favorable spot. The Twins bullpen has been average in most every statistical category, but they are allowing the fourth most HR/9 in baseball.

Cody Reed has been a staple of this article over the last few weeks because of his struggles against hitters from both sides of the plate as well as the fact that the Reds bullpen has been among the worst in baseball. However, the Reds bullpen has shown signs of improvement. The personnel hasn’t changed, but the execution has been better over the last 30 days. During that span, the Reds bullpen has allowed just 20 earned runs (fifth best). The Cardinals are fifth worst in team wOBA against lefties, so expectations should perhaps be scaled back in this game.

Tyler Anderson continues to impress. He has shut down the Dodgers, Braves, Rays, Phillies and Blue Jays at Coors Field this season, thanks in part to a GB% of 55%. The Rangers offense is in the top third in team wOBA when facing left-handers, and we all know that this is a great run-scoring environment. Anderson will have to navigate through lefty-mashers Ian Desmond, Carlos Beltran, Adrian Beltre and Jonathan Lucroy. Predictably, the Rockies bullpen has the highest (worst) home SIERA in baseball, but they have only allowed the 13th most HR’s at home thanks to a bullpen GB% of 50.7%.

Kevin Gausman has been up and down over his last six starts. During that stretch, Gausman has allowed 39 hits and eight dongs, but has also only allowed a total of 17 earned runs (just shy of 3 per game). Today, he’ll get to face the fourth worst lineup in baseball against right-handed pitchers, not to mention that Oakland has been very cold offensively over the last few weeks. Baltimore’s bullpen continues to hover around the bottom third of the league statistically, but I’m not sure that it will matter in this game.

Kendall Graveman and Kevin Gausman are the first pair of opposing pitchers to have the initials “K.G.” since… Ok, I don’t actually have a stat here, but it’s semi-interesting nonetheless. Graveman struggled in his last start, but a closer look at the peripheral stats show that his BABIP of .438 was elevated, along with his ERA (13.5) vs xFIP (4.87) comparison. Unfortunately for Graveman, he gets to face the red-hot Orioles tonight. Baltimore has the second highest team wOBA in baseball against righties on the season. The A’s bullpen sits right around average on the season, but their SIERA is in the bottom third in the last 30 days.

My Top Bullpen 3 Bullpen Situations To Attack
1. Atlanta Braves
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Oakland Athletics

2. Bullpen Personnel Movement

The Brewers recalled Rob Scahill from AAA. Scahill struggled in the lower levels and should be a middle relief arm for Milwaukee.
The Braves claimed Chaz Roe off of waivers from Baltimore. Roe posted respectable numbers in Baltimore and should work middle relief with his new club.

The Braves also brought up Madison Younginer from AAA. Younginer has struggled through AA and AAA this season.

The Tigers Recalled Kyle Ryan from AAA to take the roster spot of Jordan Zimmerman. Ryan has been solid for the Tigers with an ERA just over 3 through nearly 40 appearances.

The Phillies designated both Andrew Bailey and Brett Oberholtzer for assignment. Both had been disappointments for the Phillies ‘pen.

The Mariners acquired the ambidextrous Pat Venditte from the Blue Jays, but he will begin in AAA for now.

3. Other Notes and insights that I find along the way.

In the last 30 days, the White Sox bullpen has allowed a whopping 16 home runs in 69 innings of work.

The Mets bullpen has allowed 4 home runs over their last 69 innings of work.

Feel free to follow me and ask me questions on Twitter – @collinman005

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